5 Sodas You Should Be Using To Marinate Steak For A Tender Cut

Culinary uses for soda aren't unprecedented; we really enjoy adding Dr Pepper to our baked beans for a hit of syrupy sweetness, for instance. We've also been known to stir a can of cola into cake mix so our baked goods can benefit from the effervescent lift of carbonation. Come to find out, however, one of the best ways we can utilize those cans and bottles is in steak marinades. All along, soda was the secret to more tender, flavorful steak ... and it's probably already sitting in your pantry or fridge.

We already knew that we could tenderize meat with club soda, but using cola takes the hack a step further. Not only do many types of pop contain acidity on par with citrus, which helps break down tough connective fibers in steaks (like those that are cheaper cuts), but the sugars in soda also caramelize on the surface of the meat when exposed to heat, leading to a lovely exterior. 

Keep in mind that, for this reason, diet soda isn't the play — you don't want sucrose substitutes in this case. On the other hand, carbonation doesn't factor into effectiveness, so this is a great use for a bottle of soda that's gone flat in the back of the fridge or otherwise outlived its otherwise long shelf life, the signs of which are pretty darn obvious. We've rounded up some of our favorite sodas for steak marinades here, but don't feel constrained! You can definitely experiment with different flavor profiles to suit your finished meal. 

Coke is, as ever, the standard for colas — and that doesn't change when it comes to steak marinades. The sweetness of Coke and its flavor notes of citrus and spice play excellently against salty and savory ingredients in a good marinade, like soy sauce and garlic. Choose Mexican Coke specifically for the real sugar content, which produces superior browning. Are you more of a Pepsi person? Don't fret. Coke and Pepsi taste different due to unique formulations, but we can attest that the latter will also work for tender, tasty beef. 

Although the official formulation is a trade secret, the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper may have been cracked by avid fans — and most agree that cinnamon and cherry are prominent. You already know that fruit plays a powerful role in many good steak marinades, and cinnamon is just one of several surprising spices we've seen in high-quality drenches for beef. It's been said that Dr Pepper is among the most complex sodas out there, and we'd celebrate this deep nuance by pairing it with hot sauce for a delightful blend of sweet and heat. 

According to social media users on sites like Reddit, fruit-flavored sodas pack a special punch in steak marinades due to their BBQ sauce-like flavors. Orange soda might be an iffy pick for our comfort level — although we do like orange juice marinated with steak — but the combo of wild cherry flavor and Pepsi is, by our estimation, a potential winner. We'd pair it with plenty of brown sugar and really lean into the sweetness. You might already know the trick to pouring a perfect can of soda involves a little geometry, but achieving a good head of foam isn't paramount in this case. 

Like Dr Pepper, root beer has a complex flavor. It historically depended on sassafras or sarsaparilla for its unique taste, though today, that comes from a spice blend. Again, spices of all sorts play delectably with steaks, so root beer is a real winner here. If you live in Indiana and have access to Triple XXX root beer, great! If not, just pick up your favorite brand, keeping in mind that gourmet root beers are likely to have more nuanced profiles. Mix some teriyaki sauce and ample black pepper in your marinade for delightful, grown-up flavor from the ultimate nostalgic soda. 

You've seen ginger in many steak marinades, surely — and maybe you even taught yourself how to grate ginger with a fork to make it easier — but one unsung way of getting ginger flavor into your steak is via ginger beer, which also tenderizes the meat. If you have leftover ginger beer from a round of Moscow mules, use it before your next grilling sesh for big flavor! A punch of vinegar in the marinade will complement the boldness of the ginger beer. Of course, you can always add the fresh stuff for a more profound kick.